Albany gun show promoter signs on to AG’s procedures

Rick had a story today about the preparation for this weekend’s gun show at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. In short: Gun enthusiasts are excited and expect a record turnout; gun control activists will be saving their powder (get it?) for Sunday and Monday’s gathering of the state Conservative Party PAC at the Holiday Inn Turf, where guests will include progressive bete noir Grover Norquist.

Friday brings news that the backer of this weekend’s show, New York State Arms Collectors Association, Inc., is the newest signatory to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s “Model Gun Show Procedures,” which includes a rule that “ensures all guns brought into the gun show by private sellers are tagged so that, upon exiting, the operator can determine if guns were sold and that a proper background check was performed.”

The company also operates the April Syracuse Gun Show at the state fairgrounds. The promoters of the recent gun show in Saratoga Springs that attracted protesters on both sides of the issue previously signed on to the new procedures.

Schneiderman announced the results of his office’s sting operation targeting poor procedures and illegal sales at gun shows around the state in December 2011.

From the AG’s release:

The Attorney General’s office worked with the show manager, Sandy Ackerman Klinger, to implement the Model Procedures at the Albany and Syracuse venues.

“Gun violence is an epidemic, and my office is working with gun show operators to create simple guidelines to ensure that these deadly weapons don’t make it into the hands of felons, terrorists, the dangerously mentally ill and others that could not pass a background check,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “As we remain vigilant against the illegal sale of guns in New York State, we appreciate this operator’s willingness to join our efforts to achieve statewide adoption of our model gun show procedures.”

The Model Procedures go beyond the requirements of the state’s Gun Show Law, including a process that ensures all guns brought into the gun show by private sellers are tagged so that, upon exiting, the operator can determine if guns were sold and that a proper background check was performed.

The development of the Model Procedures grew out of Attorney General Schneiderman 2011 investigation of gun shows around the state. This investigation uncovered the frequent occurrence of private sales without background checks. Following that discovery, the Attorney General’s Office and several gun show operators worked together to develop the Model Procedures which balance the rights of the sportsmen and gun collectors with the need to protect the public from the sale of guns to people who cannot pass a background check, also known as a “National Instant Criminal Background Check System” or “NICS.” The Model Procedures require operators to do the following, and will be in place at e January 26-27th gun show at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center:

Post conspicuous signs throughout the shows, and give written notice to all dealers that New York State law requires that a National Instant Criminal Background Check be completed before the transfer of a gun at a gun show, including on the grounds of the show.

Require that all guns brought into the gun show by private sellers are tagged so that, upon exiting, the operator can determine if the guns were sold and an NICS was performed.

Provide access to a dealer who is authorized to conduct a NICS at cost.

Limit the number of access doors at the show so that sellers and buyers have to enter and exit through an area where the NICS procedures can be monitored.

Use reasonable means to prevent illegal gun sales outside of the building, including the parking lot.

Alert local law enforcement that a show will be held in their area, request periodic patrols in the parking lots to deter illegal sales, and call them if illegal sales are observed or suspected.

This case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General In-Charge of the Rochester Regional Office Debra Martin under the Supervision of Executive Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs, Martin J. Mack.